Social Support for Healthy Behaviors: Scale Psychometrics and Prediction of Weight Loss Among Women in a Behavioral Program

Abstract

Social support could be a powerful weight-loss treatment moderator or mediator but is rarely assessed. We assessed the psychometric properties, initial levels, and predictive validity of a measure of perceived social support and sabotage from friends and family for healthy eating and physical activity (eight subscales). Overweight/obese women randomized to one of two 6-month, group-based behavioral weight-loss programs (N=267; mean BMI 32.1±3.5; 66.3% White) completed subscales at baseline, and weight loss was assessed at 6 months. Internal consistency, discriminant validity, and content validity were excellent for support subscales and adequate for sabotage subscales; qualitative responses revealed novel deliberate instances not reflected in current sabotage items. Most women (>75%) “never” or “rarely” experienced support from friends or family. Using non-parametric classification methods, we identified two subscales—support from friends for healthy eating and support from family for physical activity—that predicted three clinically meaningful subgroups who ranged in likelihood of losing ≥5% of initial weight at 6 months. Women who “never” experienced family support were least likely to lose weight (45.7% lost weight) whereas women who experienced both frequent friend and family support were more likely to lose weight (71.6% lost weight). Paradoxically, women who “never” experienced friend support were most likely to lose weight (80.0% lost weight), perhaps because the group-based programs provided support lacking from friendships. Psychometrics for support subscales were excellent; initial support was rare; and the differential roles of friend versus family support could inform future targeted weight-loss interventions to subgroups at risk.

Satisfação com o Suporte Social e Perda de Peso — Estudo Transversal

“…Também na obtenção de objetivos pré-estabelecidos relacionados com a perda de peso, o suporte familiar tem sido um preditor de sucesso (Pinelli et al, 2011). No estudo de Kiernan et al (2012), mulheres com excesso de peso/obesidade que afirmaram nunca sentir suporte da família demonstraram uma menor predisposição para perder peso, comparativamente às suas congéneres que confirmaram sentir frequentemente suporte social por parte da família ou amigos. Adicionalmente, ao longo de uma intervenção focada na prevenção da diabetes, também Dill et al (2015) demonstraram a existência de suporte social positivo por parte da família como preditor de uma maior perda de peso.…”

“…São vários os fatores que interferem neste processo, nomeadamente o suporte social que, de acordo com a literatura, tem sido pouco estudado. Este tipo de apoio tem sido destacado como um importante fator em intervenções e tratamentos para a perda de peso bem-sucedida (Kiernan et al, 2012;Marquez et al, 2016;Wing & Jeffery, 1999).…”

“…Tal como referido anteriormente, o suporte social, definido por Siqueira (2008) como os recursos materiais e psicológicos aos quais as pessoas têm acesso através da sua rede social, permanece pouco estudado neste contexto (Gorin, Powers, Koestner, Wing, & Raynor, 2014;Kiernan et al, 2012). Enquanto processo que envolve o sujeito e a sua rede de apoio (Ornelas, 1994), o suporte social pode ser designado por i) formal, refletindo o apoio proveniente de fontes institucionais, ou ii) informal, caracterizando o apoio providenciado fora de contextos formais (e.g., local de trabalho, profissionais de saúde) e incluindo o apoio proveniente de amigos e familiares (Calheiros & Paulino, 2007;Campbell, Wynne-Jones, & Dunn, 2011).…”

Psychiatric symptoms, substance use, and other medical conditions in patients with obesity who seek treatment for weight loss

“…This implies that there are particular profiles of patients using this service, therefore it is necessary to develop tailored interventions based on these variables; for instance, as the majority of the patients were married and had an elementary education, a weight reduction program focused on partner and family social support might boost the effects of the intervention. 41,42 In terms of educational level, [43][44][45] is important that the provision of information is paired with the patient's education, otherwise it might be difficult to initiate behavioural changes. This result highlights the importance of tailoring specific weight loss programs, and to develop strategies to increase men's attendance to treatment.…”

Factors influencing dietary fat intake among black emerging adults

“…In addition, both scales have been used in other studies that had Blacks in the samples (Horton, 2013b;Kelsey et al, 1996;Kiernan et al, 2012;Wilson & Ampey-Thornhill, 2001). These instruments have also been used in samples that included emerging adults (Horton, 2013b;Kelsey et al, 1996;Kiernan et al, 2012).…”